Zipcar expands into downtown Palo Alto

Zipcar and Palo Alto have joined forces to expand car sharing in the downtown area with the addition of 10 new vehicles at four lots owned by the city.

The Cambridge, Mass.-based company currently has more than 50 vehicles at Stanford University, where it has operated since 2011, and more than 1,400 vehicles in the greater Bay Area.

Zipcar bills itself as an alternative to traditional vehicle rental and ownership. Cars can be reserved by members via a smartphone app, online or over the phone. Rates in Palo Alto start at $8.50 per hour or $74 per day and include gas, insurance and 180 free miles per day.

Vehicles available in the downtown area include a Toyota Prius, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra. They have designated parking spots at the Civic Center Garage, Lot H, Lot K and Lot N.

"These new locations make Zipcar even more convenient and accessible to residents and students, which help reduce demand for parking and overall congestion in the city," Zipcar San Francisco General Manager Michael Uribe said in a news release announcing the expansion.

Mayor Nancy Shepherd added that car-sharing services are an important component of the city's efforts to address traffic and parking issues.

"Our partnership with Zipcar supports our goal of reducing traffic and carbon emissions by providing an alternative to car ownership for commuters and residents," Shepherd said.